Commentary and Analysis on Businesses and Commercial Real Estate In and Around Downtown St. Louis.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Times Square Meets Downtown St. Louis?

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Columbus, Ohio, a very attractive city with a dense, walkable downtown. While exploring the city I noticed this interesting building across the street from the Ohio capitol:

Just above the street level retail space are two tickers containing news updates. Above them are two video ribbon boards, and there is a large video billboard on the roof. These signs were all in operation 24 hours a day, and really made the corner feel lively - a touch of Times Square in Central Ohio.

As I continued to walk about the city, I noticed maybe tickers on maybe two or three other buildings, including the headquarters of the Columbus Dispatch...

...and the Key Bank building

This got me thinking how tickers and video screens could easily spruce up certain parts of downtown St. Louis. Our many garages would seem to be great candidates - I can envision video screens on the blank walls of the Kiener Plaza garages, or tickers on the garage next to One Financial Plaza, either at Broadway and Locust or across from the Mercantile Exchange at 6th and Locust. Maybe KMOV or KSDK could have news feeds in front of their respective buildings. Why not? I think the effect such signage creates is very stimulating.